Underwater multiple contact electrical connector

Abstract

An underwater electrical connector of the plug and socket type intended for use in underwater environments, including a dielectric fluid-filled bladder having a sealed port with a movable dielectric stopper that moves from the first position of sealing the port to a second position of exposing electrical sockets to a probe having multiple electrical contacts. The probe is moved through the port and against the stopper, pushing the stopper to a retracted position where the electrical contacts electrically mate with the sockets. A plurality of wipers are positioned in the bladder with at least one between each of the electrical sockets, which wipers seal against the outer surface of the probe forming separate sealed, wiper chambers enclosing the electrical connection between each of the contacts and sockets. The outer diameter of the stopper is smaller than the inner diameter of the wipers, providing dielectric fluid communication passage between the several chambers.

I hereby claim: 
     
       1. An underwater electrical connector comprising: a flexible dielectric chamber having a channel with a plurality of dielectric baths for enclosing a plurality of electrical sockets in a dielectric fluid;   said flexible chamber and said dielectric baths having sealable openings;   a male probe having a plurality of spaced electrical contacts positioned in line for being inserted through said sealable openings and contacting said plurality of electrical sockets;   a dielectric stopper disposed in said channel for moving from a first position in said sealable opening of said flexible chamber to a second retracted position exposing said sockets;   said probe being movable to contact and move said stopper to the retracted position and movable through said channel to seal said sealable openings, making multiple contacts with said sockets in the dielectric baths in said flexible dielectric chamber;   said sealable openings of said dielectric baths comprising a plurality of inner, spaced wipers for wiping the outer surface of said probe in movement in said channel;   each of said wipers having an inwardly biased circular surface that contacts the outer surface of said probe between respective ones of said electrical contacts forming said dielectric baths for separately enclosing respective ones of said electrical contacts;   said stopper and said probe having an outer surface with respective diameters, with the diameter of said probe being larger than the diameter of said stopper; and   said wipers having an inward circular opening with a diameter that is larger than the diameter of said stopper, and smaller than the diameter of said probe.   
     
     
       2. An underwater electrical connector comprising: a flexible dielectric chamber having a channel with a plurality of dielectric baths for enclosing a plurality of electrical sockets in a dielectric fluid;   said flexible chamber and said dielectric baths having sealable openings;   a male probe having a plurality of spaced electrical contacts positioned in line for being inserted through said sealable openings and contacting said plurality of electrical sockets;   a dielectric stopper disposed in said channel for moving from a first position in said sealable opening of said flexible chamber to a second retracted position exposing said sockets;   said probe being movable to contact and move said stopper to the retracted position and movable through said channel to seal said sealable openings, making multiple contacts with said sockets in the dielectric baths in said flexible dielectric chamber;   said sealable openings of said dielectric baths comprising a plurality of inner, spaced wipers for wiping the outer surface of said probe in movement in said channel; each of said wipers having an inwardly biased, circular surface that contacts the outer surface of said probe between respective ones of said electrical contacts; and   the outer diameter of said stopper being smaller than the inner diameter of the contacted circular surface of said wipers, allowing direct fluid communication between said dielectric baths in said flexible chamber when said stopper is in the first position.   
     
     
       3. An underwater electrical connector comprising: a flexible chamber having a channel for enclosing a plurality of electrical sockets in a dielectric fluid and having a sealable opening at one end;   a probe having a plurality of spaced electrical contacts positioned in line for being inserted through said sealable openings and contacting said plurality of electrical sockets;   a dielectric stopper disposed in said channel for moving from a first position in said sealable opening to a second retracted position exposing said sockets;   said channel having a plurality of fluid interconnecting, sealable dielectric bath chambers, each of which encloses individual electrical connections of said contacts to said sockets;   wiper means being spaced one from the other to correspond with the space between the electrical contacts on said probe, to form said sealable dielectric bath chambers around connections of respective ones of said contacts with said sockets;   said stopper and said probe having outside diameters; and   the outer diameter of said stopper being smaller than the outer diameter of said probe, and said stopper diameter being smaller than the inner diameter of said wiper means.